Method and apparatus for closing the toe of stockings or stocking tights

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for closing the toe of a stocking, wherein a closing thread is laid or knitted into the toe end of a tubular mesh, which closing thread passes at least once around the entire periphery of the mesh. The mesh is cast off the needles of a circular knitting machine and the closing thread is then pulled or partially drawn out of the mesh, causing the mesh to be constricted so as to close the toe thereof. The closing thread is then secured, as by being knotted, to prevent same from being pulled back into the mesh.

United States Patent 1 Fecker [4 1 Apr. 2, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE TOE OF STOCKINGS OR STOCKING TIGHTS [75] Inventor: Josef Fecker,Freudenstadt,

Wurttemberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Texpatent GmbH (S.a.r.1.),

Fribourg, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 817,087

[52] US. Cl 66/9 R, 66/41, 66/95, 66/125 R, 66/134, 66/145 S, 66/146, 66/147, 66/173, 66/187 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,575,019 4/1971 .landa 66/187 761,592 5/1904 Lippitt 273/82 UX 762,142 6/1904 Clarke 66/125 X 1,443,999 2/1923 Merli et a1 66/146 X 1,520,162 12/1924 Vittori et a1. 66/146 X 2,069,021 1/1937 Schuessler 66/171 2,259,384 10/1941 Larkin 66/147 X 2,292,231 8/1942 Lesavoy. 66/1 2,522,842 9/1950 Scholl 2/21 2,601,771 7/1952 Cameron 66/170 2,749,731 6/1956 Moser 66/147 2,810,280 10/1957 Rossman 66/147 3,120,115 2/1964 Reymes-Cole 66/125 3,157,037 11/1964 Nebel et al. 66/169 A X 3,173,278 3/1965 Kaylor 66/172 3,184,236 5/1965 Zens 273/82 3,208,241 9/1965 Frederick 66/172 3,226,954 1/1966 Fregeolle 66/125 3,236,070 2/1966 Clayton, Jr. 66/170 3,254,509 6/1966 Tenconi 66/41 3,301,012 1/1967 Tenconi.... 66/41 3,340,706 9/1967 Currier 66/] X 3,387,468 6/1968 Mattingly et a1. 66/125 X 3,457,739 7/1969 Frand ct al. 66/187 X 2,787,899 4/1957 Getaz 66/172 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 814,164 6/1968 Italy 66/187 837,903 2/1969 Italy 66/187 Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 57 ABSTRACT A method and an apparatus for closing the toe of a stocking, wherein a closing thread is laid or knitted into the toe end of a tubular mesh, which closing thread passes at least once around the entire periphery of the mesh. The mesh is cast off the needles of a circular knitting machine and the closing thread is then pulled or partially drawn out of the mesh, causing the mesh to be constricted so as to close the toe thereof. The closing thread is then secured, as by being knotted, to prevent same from being pulled back into the mesh.

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z/Jjff 5 67/66 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING TIE TOE OF STOCKINGS OR STOCKING TIGHTS The invention relates to a method and apparatus for closing the toe of stockings or stocking tights which are produced in the form of a tubular or hose-shaped mesh on the needles of a circular knitting machine.

In practice there are two previously known methods for closing the toe part of stockings. In one method the loops are first decreased, then increased on the circular knitting machine to produce the toe part, thereby providing a stocking which is closed at the toe, but which has a slit passing round half of the periphery of the stocking at the point where decreasing of the loops commences. The stocking is then transferred to a separate machine and the slit is linked. This method provides stockings with faultless closed toe parts of pleasing appearance, but, because of the additional operation required to close them, it is complicated and costly. It is therefore only used for high-quality ladies stockings and, to a greater extent, for men socks. The other known method consists of the stocking being knitted in the form of an open tube as far as the toe part. it is then cut off obliquely, the cut edge is turned down and the opening sewn up. In this connection it is necessary to turn the stocking twice, since it is knitted to the right, sewn to the left and then boarded again to the right. Turning the stocking twice and sewing entail a considerable amount of work. Moreover, there is the danger that the stockings may be damaged during turning. In spite of this disadvantage this method is generally used nowadays for most ladies stockings and, to a lesser extent, for mens socks.

The prior art also includes a method (British Pat. specification No. 1,037,200) whereby the toe is closed by twisting. For this purpose knitting of the stocking commences at the toe and a ring-shaped mesh, loopshaped in longitudinal section, is first produced by feeding at least the first course on to the sinkers of the welt dial. Cams 133 and 136 are inserted radially upon passage thereby of section of needles with short butts (not shown). Then the welt dial is twisted relative to the needle cylinder. in this movement one edge of the initially loop-shaped mesh is shifted through a greater angle than the opposite edge. The mesh is thereby twisted in the centre to such an extent that a practically closed toe is produced. Finally the course of loops initially transferred on to the transfer sinkers is again fed to the needles and the knitting operation is completed. In this known method it is impossible to prevent a relatively large accumulation of material on and particularly in the middle of the toe part. This accumulation of material is due to the double-layered mesh in the vicinity of the toe and the twisting together of the mesh in the centre of the toe. The greater the accumulation of material, the more secure is the closure of the toe. Moreover, the method may only be put into practice on a special machine suitable for this purpose, in which the welt dial can be twisted ralative to the needle cylinder.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide a method for closing the toe of socks or stockings, which can be carried out actually on the circular knitting machine and which ensures reliable closure of the toe without excessive accumulation of material in the toe area. This problem is solved in accordance with the invention if an additional toe-closing thread is fed into the tube-shaped mesh in the vicinity of its edge on the side of the toe so that it passes at least once around the periphery of the mesh and is then pulled out relative to the mesh which shrinks until an essentially closed toe is formed, and so that the toe-closing thread is finally secured against withdrawal.

The invention is based on the notion that it is possible to sew up and therefore close a tubular mesh if a thread is pulled out of a course of loops. When stockings are worn, this effect is known in the negative form of socalled snags, but it ispositively expoited by the invention to close the toe in a simple manner. For this purpose a separate thread is usually laid in for closing the toe, since the thread which forms the actual mesh is normally too thin to pull out. The toe-closing thread passes at least once around the entire periphery of the stocking. After the mesh is cast off the needles, the toeclosing thread is deliberately pulled out, whereupon the tubular or hose-shaped mesh is strongly constricted at the point where the toe-closing thread is located and a closed toe is formed. The toe remains closed because the closing thread is then secured against being pulled back. In the main these steps can be carried out on a known circular knitting machine on which only a few extra units need to be fitted for pulling out the closing thread and preventing it from being pulled back. There is not a great accumulation of material in the vicinity of the toe formed in accordance with the invention, since the toe is not twisted.

The closing thread is advantageously laid into and out of the mesh so that, after being laid out, it forms two ends projecting from the mesh, said closing thread being gripped and drawn out at the projecting ends. The toe is uniformly constricted and completely closed by pulling the closing thread out at both projecting ends.

It is advantageous if the toe-closing thread is laid in and out at essentially the same point on the periphery of the mesh so that the two ends lie in juxtaposition. The ends lying thus can be easily gripped and drawn out with one pull.

The drawn-out closing thread can be particularly advantageously secured against withdrawal by knotting the drawn-out ends. The knotting may be simple effected and the closing thread is effectively secured against withdrawal without a substantial accumulation of material.

It is expediently provided that a double-layered zone for closing the toe be formed in the mesh and the closing thread be laid approximately in the centre of said closing zone. in this case the toe is mainly knitted in one layer and a double layer only exists in the closing zone, thereby producing a firm and neatly finished toe closure.

In order to prevent the formation of ladders originating in the closing rows, the latter can be knitted in a ladder-proof pattern. It is simpler if a thread which shrinks substantially when subjected to heat treatment is knitted in the closing rows of the mesh on the toe side. During figuring or shaping by heat this thread shrinks and contracts the loops of the closing rows to such an extent that no ladder can occur therein. No additional operation is required to prevent the formation of ladders since heat treatment of the stocking is necessary in any case.

The withdrawal of the thread for toe closure is facilitated if it is laid in only some of the needles.

Instead of the closing thread being gripped and drawn out by its ends, it is possible to proceed in such a manner that the closing thread is laid in the mesh so that it is held therein by its ends and forms at least one floating section, and that, when it is drawn out, the closing thread is gripped on the floating section. The floating section can be gripped relatively easily by an extracting tool which penetrates into the tube-shaped stocking mesh.

The beginning and end sections of the toe-closing thread are advantageously knitted into some of the loops in the mesh and, apart from at least one completely floating section, have such sections which are laid into only a part of the loops in the mesh. In this method the beginning and end of the closing thread are firmly held in the remaining mesh. The closing thread has at least one intermediate floating section which can be easily gripped by a pulling or supporting tool. In addition the closing thread between the beginning and end sections is only laid into part of the loops. The thread may thereby be drawn out with the minimum of effort to close the toe, but it nevertheless passes around the entire periphery of the mesh so that it is evenly constricted at a plurality of closely adjacent points on the periphery.

In accordance with an important elaboration of the invention it is provided that the closing thread should have two or more completely floating sections covered by sections in which it is laid into every loop or part thereof. In this way there are provided two or more floating sections on which it is possible to pull. This diminishes the risk of breaking the closing thread when the toe part is being constricted. In spite of this all parts of the toe are evenly drawn together, since the closing thread is provided with at least partially laidin sections distributed over the entire periphery of the stocking.

Loops narrower than in the remaining mesh are expediately formed in that part of the mesh in which the beginning and end sections of the closing thread are knitted. The ends of the toe-closing thread are gripped particularly securely in the remaining mesh, and the closing thread cannot be fully removed when the toe part is constricted.

Moreover, it is advantageous if wider or larger loops are formed in that part of the mesh, in which sections of the closing thread lying between the beginning and end sections are laid rather than in the remaining mesh. Therefore, when the closing thread is pulled out, little resistance occurs because the closing thread can slip with greater ease through the wider loops.

The constriction of the toe by means of the closing thread can be effected in a particularly simple manner because, during constriction of the toe, the mesh is drawn into an opening too narrow for it to pass through by pulling the floating sections(s) of the closing thread and is thereby retained in opposition to the pulling force acting on the closing thread.

The toe-closing thread can be secured in various ways against withdrawal after the toe is constricted. It is advantageous to sew up, knot or glue the closing thread or to weld it by the application of heat or ultrasonics. A combination of these steps can also be used. Welding would be the most advantageous method, if a thread made of thermoplastic material is used. The constricted edge of the mesh at the toe end can be sewn up, knotted, glued or welded at the same time as the closing thread. A combination of these measures is also possible in this case. Welding is also offered as the optimum solution in this case, when the stocking is made of a thermoplastic yarn.

In order that the floating section of the closing thread may be gripped with particular case, it is possible to proceed so that, after being laid in the needles, the toeclosing thread is laid out and then laid in again at least once during at least one complete cycle of the circular knitting machine so that the floating section forms a loop, the length of which is at least equal to the radius of the tubular mesh. In this way each floating sections forms a loop of such length that it stretches as far as the centre of the mesh. Such loops may be easily gripped in the centre of the needle cylinder by an extracting tool, such as a hook. The removal of the closing thread is thereby considerably simplified.

It is particularly advantageous if each loop is laid in the centre of the tubular mesh while the knitting operation is performed around a retaining or extracting member. In this case the loops are all laid around the extracting tool during knitting, so that the removal of the toe-closing thread is directly associated with the knitting operation.

The closing thread can be secured particularly simply and effectively against withdrawal, if the ends or the loop of the closing thread are twisted after or during its removal and glued together to prevent withdrawal.

The ends or sections of the thread forming the loop are closely joined by twisting. This connection is maintained by an adhesive so that the closing thread cannot be drawn back into the mesh.

The closing thread is secured against withdrawal to a particularly high degree if, according to another advantageous development of the invention, a ball is formed in the closing thread by loosening the twisted ends or loop thereof and the ball is glued together. It is generally known that, during the twisting of two or more threads, a longitudinal tension is produced in the twisted thread formation so that the latter contracts axially during loosening and forms a ball of thread. If this ball is then glued together, so many adhesive joints and such a great amount of reinforcing material are produced at the joint that the closing thread can no longer be safely drawn into the mesh.

The ends of the closing thread or the sections forming the loop are particularly tightly glued together, if adhesive is applied to the ends or loop of the closing thread before twisting.

In order that the various modifications of the method according to the invention may be put into practice on the conventional circular knitting machines comprising a rotatable needle cylinder, in which needles are mounted for longitudinal displacement, a sinker ring, which concentrically surrounds the upper edge of said needle cylinder and in which are disposed radially displaceable cast-off sinkers, and at least one thread guide for feeding the knitting thread, it is necessary to modify and supplement these circular knitting machines in various ways.

A circular knitting machine suitable for the method first described is characterized in accordance with the invention by at least a second thread guide for feeding the closing thread, a cover disk rigidly mounted above the needle cylinder and having an opening which is open towards the edge of the disk above a slot and into which the stocking toe part can be drawn and retained therein, a controlled thread-clamping device mounted 

1. A method for closing the toe of a stocking-like article produced in the form of a tubular mesh on the needles of a circular knitting machine, comprising the steps of interlaCing an additional toe-closing thread into the tubular mesh in the vicinity of its edge connected to the toe so that the closing thread passes at least once around the periphery of the mesh, pressing the mesh off the needles, providing a frame element having a small opening therethrough in the circular knitting machine, gripping the closing thread and pulling a part of the closing thread through said opening whereby the mesh is pulled partially into said opening with the opening being too small to permit the mesh to pass therethrough so as to restrain further movement of the mesh, then pulling further on the closing thread to partially withdraw a portion of the closing thread from the mesh for constricting same until an essentially closed toe is formed, and then securing the withdrawn portion of the closing thread for preventing the withdrawn portion of the closing thread from being pulled back into the mesh.
 2. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of interlacing the closing thread into and out of the mesh so that, after being laid out of the mesh, the closing thread forms two sections projecting from the mesh, and gripping the projecting sections to permit withdrawal of the closing thread so as to constrict the mesh.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the two projecting sections of the closing thread are rigidly clamped at a point spaced from the mesh, and the projecting sections are gripped at a point between the clamping point and the mesh and then drawn out of the mesh while the mesh is retained in the small opening of the frame element.
 4. A method according to claim 1, including the step of interlacing the closing thread into and out of the mesh so that it forms two projecting sections which project from the mesh and an intermediate floating section which is also free of the mesh, and gripping said intermediate section for partially withdrawing the closing thread so as to constrict the mesh.
 5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the two projecting sections project out of the mesh at substantially the same point on the periphery thereof so that the two projecting sections are in juxtaposition.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the closing thread is secured against being pulled back into the mesh by knotting the withdrawn portion of the closing thread.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a two-layer closing zone is formed in the mesh, and the closing thread is interlaced approximately in the center of the closing zone.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the closing thread comprises a yarn of approximately 200 to 250 denier and having a high rate of shrinkage.
 9. A method according to claim 1, including the step of interlacing an intermediate section of the closing thread into the mesh and knitting opposite end sections of the closing thread into the mesh for holding the closing thread therein, the intermediate section of the closing thread being interlaced into the mesh so that the closing thread has at least one floating section which is disposed intermediate its end sections and is free of the mesh, said floating section comprising said part of the closing thread which is pulled through said opening, and gripping the floating section of the closing thread and applying a withdrawal force thereto to cause constriction of the mesh by drawing the mesh into the small opening.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the closing thread is stronger than the thread used in the mesh.
 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said gripping the closing thread involves gripping the floating section of the closing thread and pulling it through the opening whereby the mesh is pulled partially into the opening, and wherein said pulling further on the closing thread involves pulling on the floating section of the closing thread to partially withdraw said portion of the closing thread from the mesh for constricting the mesh.
 12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said interlacing intermediate floaTing section is formed as a loop and has a length at least substantially equal to the radius of the tubular mesh.
 13. A method according to claim 12, including the step of providing an extracting member in the center of the mesh for permitting the floating section to be looped therearound.
 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the closing thread is interlaced into the mesh so as to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced, loop-like floating sections extending radially inwardly from the mesh.
 15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the closing thread is interlaced into the mesh so as to form at least two loop-like floating sections extending radially inwardly from the mesh from substantially the same point at the periphery thereof.
 16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said securing the withdrawn portion of the closing thread includes the steps of twisting the withdrawn portion of the closing thread and gluing the twisted portion together to prevent same from being drawn back into the mesh.
 17. A method according to claim 16, including the step of permitting the twisted withdrawn portion of the closing thread to slacken so as to form into a ball.
 18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said gluing of the twisted portion includes applying an adhesive to the withdrawn portion of the closing thread prior to twisting thereof.
 19. A circular knitting machine for producing a tubular mesh and for closing the end of the mesh so as to form the toe of a stocking, said machine comprising: knitting means for producing a tubular knitted fabric or mesh, said knitting machine including a rotatable needle cylinder having a plurality of longitudinally displaceable needles mounted thereon; said knitting means further including a sinker supporting ring surrounding the upper end of the needle cylinder and having a plurality of radially movable sinkers disposed therein; first guide means for feeding thread to said needles for permitting formation of said tubular mesh; means for causing a closing thread to be interlaced into the tubular mesh in the vicinity of one edge thereof with said closing thread passing at least once around the periphery of the mesh, said means including a second guide means for feeding the closing thread to said needles; a cover disk stationarily mounted coaxial with and above the upper edge of the needle cylinder, and the cover disk having a central opening therethrough which is too narrow for the mesh to pass therethrough; constriction means (1) for engaging the closing thread after it has been interlaced into and around said tubular mesh for pulling said mesh, after it has been cast off said needles into the central opening of said cover disk and (2) for withdrawing at least a portion of said closing thread from said mesh when said mesh is restrained by said opening so as to cause a constriction of said mesh, whereby one end of said tubular mesh is substantially closed; and securing means for securing said closing thread relative to said mesh for preventing the withdrawn portion of said closing thread from being pulled back into said mesh to thereby maintain the one end of said mesh closed.
 20. A knitting machine according to claim 19, wherein the cover disk has a slot extending from the edge of the disk inwardly toward and in communication with the opening, clamping means including a movable clamping member disposed adjacent the cover disk for temporarily gripping the closing thread, the constriction means including a pulling device mounted between the clamping member and the opening for withdrawing the closing thread, and the securing means being mounted adjacent the opening in the cover disk for preventing the closing thread from being pulled back into the mesh.
 21. A knitting machine according to claim 20, wherein said clamping means includes a resilient deflecting pin associated with the clamping member and located between the clamping member and the second guide means, the Clamping member being movable between an open position wherein it is spaced from the disk and a closed position wherein it is in engagement with the disk, and the free end of the deflecting pin extending beyond the end of the clamping member whereby said pin is disposed in engagement with said disk when said clamping member is spaced at a location intermediate its open and closed positions.
 22. A knitting machine according to claim 20, wherein the pulling device includes a vertically displaceable extracting hook disposed for engagement with the closing thread.
 23. A knitting machine according to claim 22, wherein said cover disk is provided with a recess therein, and said extracting hook has a head portion disposed for reception in said recess when the extracting hook is in its lowermost position.
 24. A knitting machine according to claim 20, wherein said securing means includes a knotting device mounted above the opening in said cover disk for engaging the withdrawn portion of the closing thread and for forming a knot therein, and a vertically movable thread control plate disposed adjacent said knotting device and positioned for engagement with the withdrawn portion of the closing thread for permitting said knotting device to coact with said withdrawn portion of said closing thread so as to form a knot therein.
 25. A knitting machine according to claim 24, including cutter means associated with said knotting device for cutting said closing thread.
 26. A knitting machine according to claim 24, wherein a cutting device is located adjacent the cover disk for cutting the closing thread, said cutting device including a cutting edge formed on the lower edge of the thread control plate, and a second cutting edge rigidly mounted on the cover disk opposite from the thread control plate.
 27. A knitting machine according to claim 20, wherein the slot formed in said cover disk extends through said disk and extends from said opening toward the edge of said disk approximately in the form of a steep logarithmic spiral.
 28. A knitting machine according to claim 20, wherein the opening formed in said cover disk is of a conical configuration.
 29. A knitting machine according to claim 20, further including means interconnected to said securing means, said constriction means and said clamping means for synchronizing and controlling the operations thereof.
 30. A knitting machine according to claim 19, wherein said means for interlacing said closing thread into said mesh causes a central portion of said closing thread to be interlaced with said mesh with the two end portions of said closing thread projecting from the mesh.
 31. A knitting machine according to claim 19, wherein the means for causing a closing thread to be interlaced into the mesh causes the closing thread to be held in the mesh by knitting end portions of the closing thread into the mesh, an intermediate portion of the closing thread being free of connection to and floating relative to the mesh, and said constriction means including a movable hook disposed for engagement with the floating section of said closing thread.
 32. A knitting machine according to claim 31, and wherein said hook is movable through said opening for engaging the floating section of said closing thread and for drawing said floating section through said opening.
 33. A knitting machine according to claim 32, wherein said securing means comprises a gluing device disposed adjacent said opening for securing the withdrawn portion of said closing thread.
 34. A knitting machine according to claim 32, wherein said opening converges conically in a direction away from the mesh whereby the mesh will partially enter said opening and is constrained from passing therethrough.
 35. A knitting machine according to claim 31, further including means movably mounting said hook for both rotatable and vertical movement, said hook being rotated after same has engaged and partially withdrawn said closing thread from said mesh for causing twisting of the withdrawn portion of said closing thread, and applicator means disposed adjacent said hook for applying an adhesive to the twisted portion of said closing thread.
 36. A knitting machine according to claim 35, wherein the means mounting the hook includes a motor having a shaft on which the hook is secured, and means pivotably mounting said motor for enabling vertical displacement of said motor above the needle cylinders substantially in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.
 37. A knitting machine according to claim 35, wherein said applicator means includes a spray nozzle disposed adjacent the path of movement of the hook for spraying an adhesive onto the twisted portion of the closing thread.
 38. A knitting machine according to claim 37, further including cutting means for cutting the withdrawn portion of the closing thread after the adhesive has been applied thereto.
 39. A knitting machine according to claim 38, further including cam means for synchronously controlling the movement of the hook, the applicator means and the cutting means.
 40. A knitting machine according to claim 39, wherein the means mounting the hook include an elongated lever having a portion thereof coacting with said cam means and also having a motor pivotally mounted thereon at a location spaced from said cam means, said motor having a shaft with said hook fixedly secured to said shaft, whereby said motor when energized causes rotation of said hook, with pivotable movement of said lever by said cam means causing said motor to be substantially vertically displaced in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said hook.
 41. A knitting machine according to claim 20, further including a cutting device located adjacent the cover disk for cutting the closing thread.
 42. A knitting machine according to claim 32, wherein said securing means comprises a welding device disposed adjacent said opening for securing the withdrawn portion of said closing thread.
 43. A knitting machine according to claim 41, further including suction tube means associated with the clamping means for drawing off severed thread ends produced by said cutting device and for temporarily retaining an end of the closing thread. 